CN101203903A - Input device including scroll wheel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An input device including a scroll wheel assembly for moving an image in multiple directions on a display screen. The scroll wheel assembly may include a finger-engagable control member that may be endlessly rotated about a rotation axis and a tilt sensor containing a tilt contact member coplanar with the finger-engagable control member and oriented in a substantially vertical, downward orientation such that pivoting of the finger-engagable control member may move the tilt contact member laterally to contact laterally disposed contact switches. In another example, the finger-engagable control member contains a flexible blade at an underside for biasing the scroll wheel assembly to an upright position.

Description

Input device including scroll wheel assembly

Background technique

Scroll wheels have been provided on computer mice and are used by computer operators to move images relative to the display device screen of a host computer. A scroll wheel assembly includes a rotatable scroll wheel and a sensor that is typically included in the housing of a peripheral computer device such as a mouse. Typically, a portion of the scroll wheel protrudes upward from an opening in its housing and is rotatable to scroll images vertically along the screen.

Scrolling as used herein describes the movement of an image in a particular direction relative to the screen of a display device, as the term is commonly used in the art. For example, the term "scroll down" as used herein relates to moving the viewable content of a document, such as a text document or image, by an amount relative to a display device screen to produce the effect of a downward movement in the document or image. Likewise, the terms scroll up, scroll left and scroll right relate to moving the viewable content of a document by an amount relative to the display device screen to produce the effect of moving up, left and right, respectively, in the document or image. The term scrolling as used herein also includes panning, where panning refers to automatic scrolling of images.

In operation, a conventional scroll wheel typically rotates about a first laterally extending axis fixed in the housing to scroll the image up and down (vertically) relative to the display device screen. As is well known in the art, as the scroll wheel rotates, the encoder senses the rotation of the encoder wheel and sends a corresponding signal to a host computer, which in turn is used to move the image. This can be done without the user moving the position of the mouse and/or cursor. However, many types of documents, such as spreadsheets, are often wider than the width of the display device screen, and a user may wish to scroll horizontally across the screen to view the entire document. When a user needs to scroll horizontally across a display device screen, the user typically must stop what he or she is doing and perform several tedious and potentially frustrating steps. These (steps) include positioning the graphical user interface in the form of a horizontal scroll bar typically located near the bottom of the display device, positioning the cursor on the scroll bar, and rotating the scroll wheel. Positioning scroll bars can be difficult for those with poor eyesight, small display device screens, and/or poor hand-eye coordination. As a result, users will waste time and delay the realization of their solutions while fumbling for the bottom horizontal scroll bar. When a user is working under a deadline, these delays can cause him or her to magnify intense frustration and unnecessary stress.

If the user does not accurately position the cursor on the horizontal scroll bar, when he or she rotates the scroll wheel, the image will not scroll horizontally relative to the display device screen. Instead, the image will move vertically relative to the display device screen and incorrectly alter the displayed image. This error would force the user to take additional steps to reposition the desired image on the display device screen. These steps include the user making sure that the cursor is not positioned over the horizontal scroll bar and rotating the scroll wheel in the opposite direction to return the image to its previous position. Unfortunately, repositioning the image can cause errors if the image is being modified. For example, the user cannot return an image to its previous position. As a result, he may have modified the wrong part of the image. Even if the correct image or portion of an image is returned to the display device screen, the user still has to try a second time to position the bottom horizontal scroll bar in order to eventually move the image horizontally.

Existing mouse designs include a first rotatable scroll wheel for scrolling images up and down and a second, separate rotatable scroll wheel for scrolling images left and right. The rotatable rollers are oriented to extend and rotate in planes perpendicular to each other. The two rollers work independently. However, a disadvantage of this configuration is that the two scroll wheels take up useful upper surface area on the mouse, which could be used to support the user's hand or for additional input keys. Further, the two scroll wheels have been downsized to accommodate the two scroll wheels on the upper surface of the mouse. Smaller size scroll wheels make scrolling more difficult to control. In addition, the position of the horizontal scroll wheel is not convenient for effective control.

Contents of the invention

A brief summary of the invention is given below to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A first exemplary aspect includes an input device for scrolling an image in multiple directions on a display device. The input device has a housing and a scroll wheel assembly. The scroll wheel assembly includes a finger-engagable rotatable element that is continuously rotatable about an axis of rotation and pivotable about a vertical tilt axis. The scroll wheel assembly may also include a tilt sensing system that determines when the finger-engageable rotatable element has pivoted.

In another aspect, the tilt-sensing system includes a tilt-sensing element or a tilt-contact element extending in a generally vertical direction at a centerline of the finger-engageable rotatable element. When the finger engageable rotatable element pivots in one direction, the tilt sensing element moves laterally in the opposite direction. The tilt sensing element can contact a laterally arranged contact switch. Pivoting of the finger-engageable rotatable element is detected on the basis of contact of the tilt sensing element with a laterally arranged touch switch.

In another aspect, resilient vanes are provided that act as tilt biasing elements. The resilient blade may extend from the plane of the bottom surface of the finger-engageable member, wherein the plane is in the midline of the sides of the finger-engageable member and is equidistant from the sides of the finger-engageable member. The elastic blade may be attached proximally to the bottom surface of the finger-engageable element and may extend distally into a support structure for limiting lateral movement of the elastic blade. Examples of support structures include, but are not limited to, slots in the circuit board or guide structures with slots for receiving the resilient blades. Thus, the blade acts as a "return-to-center" biasing element that flexes when the finger-engageable element (e.g., a scroll wheel) is tilted so that when the tilting force is released, the blade flexes the stored force to return the roller to the upright position.

In another aspect, the finger-engageable element may be associated with a shaft extending from the finger-engageable element along the tilt axis. The shaft may contact or be contained in a carrier such as a tower or Z-carrier. The bracket may engage the shaft such that the corresponding shape of the opening in the bracket for supporting the shaft and the cross-sectional shape of the shaft prevents excessive pivoting of the finger-engageable element.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a computer input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a scroll wheel assembly for the computer input device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tilt sensor of FIG. 2 .

4 is a rear view of the tilt sensor of the roller assembly of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5A is a side view of a roller assembly illustrating one example of an elastic blade.

Fig. 5B is a rear view of the roller assembly and elastic blades of Fig. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a side view of a roller assembly illustrating another example of an elastic blade.

Fig. 6B is a rear view of the roller assembly and elastic blades of Fig. 5B.

7 is a front view of a roller assembly illustrating aspects of the tilt axis and optical path for rotation detection.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the roller assembly of FIG. 7 .

9 is a front view of the vertical front strut and front axle of the roller assembly of FIG. 2 .

Detailed ways

In the following description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and show by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 illustrates one example of a computer input device including a scroll wheel assembly 100 having a finger-engageable control element 101 (e.g., a scroll wheel) that can be used with different types of computer input devices for The image is scrolled in multiple directions and along multiple axes (X, Y) relative to the display device screen 2, which is used with a host computer 8, another type of computing device or an Internet appliance. As shown in FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a scroll wheel assembly 100 according to the present invention may be placed within a mouse 60 . Alternatively, scroll wheel assembly 100 may be placed within a keyboard or other peripheral computer input device such as a trackball device or similar input device (not shown). For example, the scroll wheel assembly may also be located in the front cover of a handheld computer, larger mobile computing device, web pad or Internet appliance, or may be located on the chassis of a laptop computer. These other peripheral devices may have wired or wireless connections to the host computer 8, as is well known in the art. The scroll wheel assembly 100 may alternatively be located in a computer monitor or in a base portion of a laptop computer. As described in more detail below, in addition to its normal rotational movement for vertical scrolling, the finger engageable control element 101 can be pivoted to scroll images horizontally on the display device screen 2 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a scroll wheel assembly 100 has a finger-engageable control element 101 that can be used with different types of computer input devices that are used to orient in multiple directions relative to a display device screen (4, 5). and to scroll the image along multiple axes (X, Y), display device screens (4, 5) for use with the computer or another type of computing device or Internet appliance as described in FIG. 1 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a scroll wheel assembly 100 according to the present invention may be placed within a mouse 60 . As is well known, a mouse includes a system for determining the translational movement of the mouse relative to a tracking surface so that the movement of the cursor on the display device can be controlled by corresponding mouse movements. In conventional fashion, mouse 60 also includes housing 55 and depressible actuators, such as primary key 45 and/or secondary key 50 . The housing 55 has an opening 40 therein. Roller assembly 30 is mounted in housing 55 . A portion of the finger-engageable control element 101 may be exposed through an opening 40 extending through the input device so as to be easily accessible and manipulated by the user. As described in more detail below, in addition to at least a portion of the scroll wheel assembly 100 being able to rotate from front to back or back to front to scroll vertically, the finger-engageable control element 101 can pivot sideways (also That is, tilting) to scroll the image 1 horizontally on the display device screen 2 or cause another action of the computer.

Although the scroll wheel is described as part of the mouse 101, other embodiments are also encompassed by the invention, including scroll wheel assemblies in other devices such as keyboards, trackball devices, and the like. Alternative embodiments of the scroll wheel assembly 100 may be located within a keyboard or other computer input device such as a trackball device or similar input device. For example, it could also be located in the front cover of a handheld computer, larger mobile computing device, networking pad or Internet appliance, or it could be located on the chassis of a laptop computer. Any of these computer input devices may have a wired or wireless connection to the host computer, as is well known in the art. The scroll wheel assembly 100 may alternatively be located on the base portion of a computer monitor or laptop.

One example of a rotatable element of a scroll wheel assembly is a finger engageable control element (eg, scroll wheel) 101 , as illustrated in FIG. 2 . The finger-engageable control element 101 may further be rotatably supported in a bracket 106 , wherein the bracket 106 permits continuous rotation of the finger-engageable control element 101 relative to the bracket 106 about a lateral orientation axis. Bracket 106 surrounds at least a portion of the lower half of finger-engageable control element 101 , leaving the upper half of control element 101 unobstructed for user manipulation.

The scroll wheel assembly 100 may include a rotation sensing system for detecting rotation of the finger-engageable control element 101 . The rotation sensing system in this embodiment is an optical rotation sensor with a rotation sensor encoder 120 , light source 102 and light detector 110 . As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the light source 102 and light detector 110 are located on opposite sides of the finger engageable control element 101 . The bracket 106 contains a bracket opening 119 through which light from the light source 102 can pass.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotary sensor encoder 120 is placed in the finger-engageable control element 101 so that the rotary sensor encoder 120 and the finger-engageable control element The light is blocked from the photodetector 110. Thus, rotation of the finger-engageable control element 101 can be achieved by detecting light passing from the light source 102 through the spaced apart opening of the rotary sensor encoder 120 in the finger-engageable control element 101 and the bracket opening 119 to the light detector 110. to test. Alternatively, instead of a pass-through configuration, the rotatable element may comprise alternating light-absorbing and light-reflecting surfaces on the encoder wheel. For example, rotation of the finger-engageable control element 101 utilizes a reflective encoder method such that the encoder transmits light and senses light reflected from an encoder wheel on the finger-engageable control element 101 . The encoder and encoder wheel are oriented such that light is transmitted in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the finger-engageable control element 101 and the encoder wheel. The encoder wheel includes angularly spaced alternating reflective and non-reflective portions that can be distinguished by the encoder so that the angular displacement between the encoder wheel and the encoder can be determined. A contrast in light reflectivity can be induced by etching and not etching angularly spaced areas on the side of the encoder wheel facing the encoder. As the finger-engageable control element 101 is rotated, the non-reflective portion of the encoder wheel absorbs incident light and the reflective portion of the encoder wheel reflects incident light back to its light-receiving detector. Detectors sense these interruptions and are coupled to a controller that generates and delays signals to the host computer to scroll the image up and down in the Y direction based on the amount and direction of rotation. In such an embodiment, the two elements of the optical pair are on the same side of the encoder.

Alternatively, the rotary sensor encoder may be spaced laterally from the finger-engageable control element 101 . In such a configuration, the light source and light detector of the optical pair may be located on one side of the finger engageable control element 101 . The encoder may be attached to the finger-engageable control element via a shaft at the axis of rotation of the finger-engageable control element. Rotation of the finger-engageable control element causes rotation of the rotary sensor encoder, which intermittently blocks the path of light from the light source to the light detector. As described above, movement or rotation of the finger-engageable control element is detected and analysed, based on the intermittent light transmission pattern received at the light detector.

Figure 2 illustrates a roller assembly. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tilt sensor in FIG. 2 . 4 is a rear view of the tilt sensor of the roller assembly of FIG. 2 . As illustrated in Figures 2-4, the finger engageable control element 101 may further pivot relative to the axis of rotation. In this example, the finger-engageable control element 101 has a tilt axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the finger-engageable control element 101 and parallel to the axis of rotation. In one example, the tilt axis is coplanar with the axis of rotation, or may be in a plane above the axis of rotation. In this example, the tilt axis lies in a plane below the rotation axis. Furthermore, the bracket 106 may contain at least a portion of the finger-engageable control element 101 . The bracket 106 may include a front axle 122, a rear axle 121, an angled contact element 118 extending from the rear axle 121, which may be a unitary molded structure of any suitable material, such as plastic, as desired. The front shaft 122 may extend from the front side of the bracket through the opening 130 of the vertical front strut 104 along the tilt axis of the finger-engageable control element 101 . For example, the front axle 122 fits into the opening 130 of the vertical front strut 104 that supports the front axle 106 to prevent downward displacement of the forward portion of the bracket while still allowing rotation and pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101. change. Also, the opening 130 of the vertical front strut 104 provides sufficient play to enable the rear end portion of the bracket to move downward in response to being pressed.

Also, the bracket 106 may include a rear axle 121, wherein the rear axle 121 extends from the rear aspect of the bracket along the tilt axis of the finger-engageable control element 101 through the slot 131 of the tower bracket 124 such that the opposite direction of the slot 131 ( Both) sides prevent lateral displacement of the rear axle 121 relative to the tower bracket 124 . This enables the rear axle 121 to pivot in the slot 131 while still avoiding lateral displacement of the rear axle 121 . Accordingly, the rear axle 121 may extend from the bracket 106, wherein the bracket 106 and the finger-engageable control element 101 pivot in unison.

The scroll wheel assembly 100 contains a tilt sensor 114 in which a pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 can be detected. In this configuration, tilt sensor 114 includes tilt contact element 118 , which is an elongate structure extending from rear axle 121 oriented coplanar with finger-engageable control element 101 . In this example, rear axle 121 extends through tower bracket 124 along the tilt axis of finger-engageable control element 101 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the angled contact element 118 extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the rear axle 121 at the centerline such that the angled contact element 118 extends downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the angled axis.

The opening of the circuit board 112 contains an inclined contact switch 116 on each side of an inclined contact element 118 . When rotated, the inclined contact element 118 is positioned between the two contact switches 116 . In one configuration, a hole is provided in the circuit board through which the angled contact element 118 can be positioned. Pivoting of the finger-engageable control element causes a corresponding rotational movement of the bracket 106 about the tilt axis, which in turn causes the rear axle to rotate a corresponding amount, which also causes the tilt contact element 118 adjacent its end and adjacent to the rear axle to pivot. change. As this occurs, a lower portion of the sloped contact element 118 will move laterally and contact the contact switch 116 on the side opposite the slope. On the basis of the contact of the tilting element 118 and the corresponding contact switch 116 on the side opposite to the tilting direction, pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 is thus detected. Specifically, tilting the roller assembly 100 to the right causes the rotary contact element 118 to contact the contact switch on the left side, and tilting the wheel assembly 100 to the left causes the rotary contact element 118 to contact the contact switch on the right side.

FIG. 4 further illustrates that the tilt contact switch 116 may be located at an opening in the circuit board 112 through which the tilt contact element 118 passes. The circuit board 112 in this example is on the base 123 . The orientation of the tilt contact switch 116 saves space on the circuit board 112 . The tilt contact switch 116 in this example is separated, accessing the tilt contact element 118 in the circuit board 112 . By doing so, the contact switches on the circuit board 112 take up less space, which provides additional space for other components, and places fewer constraints on the positioning and configuration of the electronic components on the circuit board 112 .

It should be noted that Figures 3 and 4 illustrate only one example of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, in an alternate example, the tilt contact switch 116 may be separate from the circuit board 112 . In this example, the circuit board 112 may be located at a lower position (eg, closer to the base 123 ) than the angled contact elements 118 and may include a structure thereon for each of the angled contact elements 118 . Side tilt contact switch 116. In this way, the positioning of the circuit board 112 is independent of the positioning of the tilt contact switch 116 . In another alternative example, the base 123 may include a structure thereon for containing the tilt contact switch 116 on each side of the tilt contact element 118 for containing the tilt contact switch The structure 116 may pass through the opening of the circuit board 112 .

Pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 may be limited to avoid excessive pivoting. This can be used to avoid that the angled contact element 118 exerts too much force on the contact switch. For example, the cross-section of the front axle 122 extending through the opening in the vertical nose strut 104 may be a predetermined shape relative to the opening 130 of the vertical nose strut 104 to avoid excessive pivoting. FIG. 9 shows an example of the front axle 122 having a triangular cross-section in the triangular opening 130 of the vertical front strut 104 . When the finger-engageable control element 100 is tilted, force is applied to the front axle 122 and transmitted through the opening 130 of the vertical front strut 104 . Due to the cross-section of the front shaft 122 and the relative shape of the opening 130 , the front shaft 122 and the opening 130 avoid excessive tilting of the finger-engageable control element 100 . However, the cross-section of the front axle 122 and the relative shape of the opening of the vertical front strut 104 are not so limited and may be any combination that limits excessive pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 . For example, the cross-section of the front axle 122 and the opening of the Z-bracket may be oval or rectangular to prevent excessive pivoting. Likewise, the cross-section of the rear axle 121 and the slot 131 in the tower bracket 124 for receiving the rear axle 121 may also be any combination that avoids excessive pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 .

In use, when a user wants to scroll an image 1 in multiple directions on a display device screen 2 (see FIG. 1 ) along multiple axes 4, 5 (see FIG. 1 ), he or she will be relative to Housing 55 rotates and/or pivots scroll wheel assembly 30 sideways to generate signals that are interpreted by the computer as causing vertical and/or sideways scrolling, respectively. When the scroll wheel assembly 100 is rotated by the user, the rotational motion is sensed by the rotational motion sensing system (that is, based on light from the light source 102 being detected at the light detector 110), and the image 1 is oriented parallel to the Y-axis 4 (see Figure 1) Extended positive or negative vertical scrolling, that is, scrolling up or down. When the scroll wheel assembly 100 is tilted or pivoted sideways by the user, the pivoting motion is sensed by the tilt sensor 114 and the image 1 (see FIG. 1 ) scrolls in a positive or negative horizontal direction extending parallel to the X-axis 4 (see FIG. 1 ). Move, that is, scroll left or right.

According to the above, the roller assembly 100 can have at least two positions, that is, a first position and a second position. The slot 131 of the tower bracket 124 for receiving the rear axle 121 may contain space to allow downward movement of the finger-engageable control element 101 . For example, the roller assembly 100 is in the first position when in the neutral position. However, if the finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106 can be positioned into the second position, the wheel assembly 100 and bracket 106 can contact the switch located below the wheel assembly 100 (ie, the Z-shaped switch 108). By contacting the scroll wheel assembly 100 with the Z-switch 108, corresponding to actuation of the Z-switch, the scroll wheel assembly 100 may cause the performance of additional functions on the display device screen. In this example, the roller assembly 101 can pivot forward about a second pivot axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller 101 and that intersects the opening 130 of the vertical front leg 104 .

The finger-engageable control element 101 and/or bracket 106 are biased to an intermediate position relative to their potential pivot (that is, biased to an upright position relative to the opening in the housing). When the user pivots the finger-engageable control element 101, the finger-engageable control element 101 and the bracket 106 are changed away from their neutral positions. For example, pivoting of the finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106 tilts the finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106 about a tilt axis defined by axes 121, 122 and substantially perpendicular to the finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106. Cooperating controls the axis of rotation of the element 101 . After the tilting or pivoting force is released, the biasing of the bracket 106 and finger-engageable control element 101 returns the bracket 106 and finger-engageable control element 101 to the neutral position.

In one example, the tilt biasing device for biasing the bracket 106 and the finger-engageable control element 101 includes a resilient blade 401 . FIGS. 5A and 6A are side views of a roller assembly 100 illustrating two examples of use of a tilt biasing device that includes springs that affect the lateral bias of the bracket 106 and/or finger-engageable control element 101. FIGS. blade 401 . 5B and 6B are rear views of the roller assembly 100 with the elastic blade 401 in FIGS. 5A and 6A, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B , the roller assembly 100 may include elastic blades 401 . In this example, the resilient blade 401 is located on the underside of the finger-engageable control element 101 or bracket 106 . However, the position of the elastic blade 401 is not limited in this way, and the elastic blade 401 may also be located in many other positions relative to the roller assembly 100 . For example, the elastic blade 401 may also be located on the front or back of the finger-engageable control element 101 .

The elastic blade 401 may be configured as part of the bracket. For example, the resilient vane 401 may form a unitary structure with the bracket 106 and may be molded with the front axle 122 , rear axle 121 and inclined contact element 118 . The elastic blade 401 can also be integrated with a bracket or a finger-fittable control element 101 through a cantilever seat as a cantilever beam structure. The elastic blade 401 can be made of any solid or semi-rigid material. In this example, the elastic blade 401 is a flattened, elongated element of any semi-rigid or rigid material, having a proximal end 402a and a distal end 402b. The proximal end 402a is positioned at the midline of the finger-engageable control element 101 and is oriented in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the finger-engageable element 101 or the bracket 106 . The elastic blade 401 extends downwards and points to the distal end 402b. In this example, the proximal end 402a of the resilient blade 401 extends from the bottom surface of the bracket 106 and passes through the slot of the circuit board 112 at the distal end. The proximal end 402a of the resilient blade 401 may be integrally molded to the bracket. The slot width in the circuit board 112 may be equal to the width of the elastic blade 401 so that the distal end 402b of the elastic blade 401 has little to no lateral displacement when the finger-engageable element 101 is pivoted. Alternatively, the slot of the circuit board 112 may be slightly wider than the width of the elastic blade 401 to allow for minimal lateral movement of the elastic blade 401 when the finger-engageable control element 101 is pivoted.

In use, when the finger-engageable control element 101 is pivoted in either direction, the bracket and roller will pivot, but the distal end 402b of the resilient blade 401 remains within the slot of the circuit board 112 . When the pivoting force on the finger-engageable control element 101 is released, the stored force in the curved elastic blade 401 forces the finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106 back to the neutral position.

6A and 6B illustrate alternative examples of elastic blades in the roller assembly 100. As shown in FIG. FIG. 6A is a side view of the roller assembly 100 , while FIG. 6B illustrates a rear view of the roller assembly 100 . For clarity, the circuit board 112 is illustrated as a dashed structure. For clarity, no particular elements are illustrated in Figure 6B. This example is similar to the example illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, except that the distal ends of the elastic blades 401 extend into guide slots in the guide 403 instead of the slots of the circuit board. Guide 403 is provided on base 123 and is preferably located midline and below finger-engageable control element 101 and bracket 106 and contains slots for engaging resilient blades 401 . The width of the groove of the guide 403 may be equal to the width of the elastic blade 401, or may be slightly wider than the width of the elastic blade 401 to allow minimal lateral movement of the elastic blade.

In another example, the detection and characterization of the rotation of the finger-engageable element 101 does not substantially affect the detection and characterization of the pivoting of the finger-engageable element 101 . 7 and 8 illustrate one example of a scroll wheel assembly 100 in which detection and characterization of rotation and pivoting of the finger-engageable element 101 can be accomplished without interfering with another movement. For example, as described in the examples above, if the finger-engageable control element 101 is rotated, then, for example, by an optical rotation sensor, by detecting at the photodetector 110 the of light, the rotation is accurately detected. Also as described in the examples above, if the finger-engageable control element 101 is pivoted, the pivoting can be detected, for example, by a tilt sensor 114 in which a centrally positioned tilted contact element 118 is moved laterally. Bit to contact tilt contact switch 116.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate details of the finger engageable control element 101 being pivoted and rotated simultaneously. In this example, the tilt axis 601 of the finger-engageable element 101 and the bracket 106 extends from the front to the rear of the finger-engageable element 101 . As previously described, an optical pair comprising a light source 102 and a light detector 110 is used to detect rotation of the finger engageable element 101 . The light source 102 and light detector 110 are located on opposite (both) sides of the encoder of the finger-engageable element 101, so that light from the light source 102 passes through the finger-engageable control element 101 (and the opening in the bracket 106) along the The optical axis 702 (that is, the path of the light trace) reaches the light detector 110 . In this example, optical axis 702 is in line with tilt axis 601 . Optical axis 702 may be close to tilt axis 601 . For example, the optical axis may be approximately 3 millimeters from the tilt axis or less than 3 millimeters from the tilt axis. Alternatively, the optical axis may be 1 mm from the tilt axis. In another example, optical axis 702 may be less than 1 mm from the tilt axis. Also, the optical axis 702 may intersect the tilt axis 601 . As illustrated in FIG. 7 , tilt axis 601 (depicted as "X") intersects optical axis 702 (depicted as a boxed arrow in FIG. 7 and depicted as "+" in FIG. 8 ). This configuration minimizes or eliminates interference with the rotation detection function based on the finger engageable control element 101 about the tilt axis 601 .

It should be understood that aspects of the invention may take many forms and embodiments. The embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than limit the invention, and it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, extensive modifications, changes and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention can be used without the use of other corresponding features. It should therefore be understood that the appended claims are to be interpreted broadly in a manner consistent with the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1. one kind is used for respect to the input equipment of image display screen along quadrature-axis scrolling image, and described equipment comprises:

Shell, described shell comprise the upper surface with at least one opening and are applicable to the lower surface that moves along tracked surface; And

Be arranged on the roll wheel assembly in the described shell, described roll wheel assembly comprises the rotatable element that the finger that is positioned in the described opening can cooperate, the first axle that the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be extended in the described shell constantly rotates, the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be around second axis pivoting action, and described first axle is substantially perpendicular to described second axis; And

The tilt induction system, described tilt induction system determines when that the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate pivots with respect to shell around described second axis, and described tilt induction system is included in the inclination contact element that extends between described second axis and the described lower surface; And

Be positioned at two contact-making switches on the described vertical orientation element opposition side.

2. equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises the axle that extends along described second axis, and wherein, described inclination contact element comprises first end and second end, and described first end is attached to described axle.

3. equipment as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described two contact-making switches are arranged in the edge of the opening of circuit board.

4. equipment as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that, when second direction pivoted, described inclination contact element was along the first direction lateral displacement around described second axis for the rotatable element that can cooperate when described finger, and described first direction is opposite with described second direction.

5. equipment as claimed in claim 5, it is characterized in that, when the rotatable element that can cooperate when described finger pivots around described second axis, the element of described perpendicular orientation contacts at least one contact-making switch, based on the element of described perpendicular orientation and contacting of described contact-making switch, detect the pivot of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate.

6. one kind is used for respect to the input equipment of image display screen along quadrature-axis scrolling image, and described equipment comprises:

Shell with at least one opening; And

Be arranged on the roll wheel assembly in the described shell, described roll wheel assembly comprises the rotatable element that the finger that is positioned in the described opening can cooperate, the first axle that the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be extended in the described shell constantly rotates, the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be around second axis pivoting action, and described first axle is substantially perpendicular to described second axis;

Be used to detect the rotation sensor of the rotation of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate, described rotation sensor comprises light source and photodetector, wherein, described light source sends light to described photodetector on the light path on the 3rd axis, described second axis of described the 3rd axial line distance is less than 3 millimeters, and is parallel to described first axle perpendicular to described second axis.

7. equipment as claimed in claim 6, it is characterized in that, the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate comprises outside peripheral radial surface and inner radial surface, described inner radial surface limits the radial edges of the hollow interior region of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate, and the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate also comprises and is positioned at rotation sensor scrambler in its described hollow interior region, that be used to respond to the rotation of the control element that described finger can cooperate.

8. equipment as claimed in claim 7, it is characterized in that, described light source is in the rotatable element first side direction aspect that described finger can cooperate, described photodetector is in the second side direction aspect of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate, and wherein said first side direction aspect and the described second side direction aspect are on the opposition side of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate.

9. equipment as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, described light path is crossed the described rotation sensor scrambler in the described hollow interior region of the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate.

10. equipment as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described the 3rd axis and described second axes intersect.

11. one kind is used for respect to the input equipment of image display screen along quadrature-axis scrolling image, described equipment comprises:

Shell, described shell comprise the upper surface with at least one opening and are applicable to the lower surface that moves along tracked surface; And

Be arranged on the roll wheel assembly in the described shell, described roll wheel assembly comprises the rotatable element that the finger that is positioned in the described opening can cooperate, the first axle that the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be extended in the described shell constantly rotates, the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate can be around second axis pivoting action, and described first axle is substantially perpendicular to described second axis; And

Equipment in returning, equipment is configured to the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate is turned back to the centre position in described time, equipment comprises the spring leaf with near-end and far-end in described time, and described near-end is operably connected to the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate.

12. equipment as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that, also comprises carriage, the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate is arranged in the described carriage, and wherein, described spring leaf is integrally moulded to described carriage, wherein, the described near-end of described spring leaf is integrally moulded to described carriage.

13. equipment as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, the described far-end of described spring leaf is lower than the described near-end of described spring leaf, and extends between at least two lateral support structure.

14. equipment as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, described input equipment comprises the circuit board with hole, and described at least two lateral support structure are the edges in the described hole of described circuit board.

15. equipment as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, the element coplane that described spring leaf and described finger can cooperate, and the mid point between the side direction aspect of the element that can cooperate from described finger vertically extends.

16. equipment as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, described spring leaf is attached to the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate by the cantilever seat.

17. equipment as claimed in claim 15, it is characterized in that, in the structure of the described remote extension of described spring leaf below the element that described finger can cooperate, described structure is positioned on the lower surface of described shell, and is used to limit being displaced sideways of described spring leaf.

18. equipment as claimed in claim 17 is characterized in that, when elements pivot that described finger can cooperate, the described far-end of described spring leaf remains in the described structure.

19. equipment as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, also comprise and be configured to the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate is turned back to equipment in the returning of centre position, equipment comprises the spring leaf with near-end and far-end in described time, and described near-end is operably connected to the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate.

20. equipment as claimed in claim 19, it is characterized in that, the rotation sensor that also comprises the rotation that is used to detect the rotatable element that described finger can cooperate, described rotation sensor comprises light source and photodetector, wherein, described light source sends light to described photodetector on the light path on the 3rd axis, described second axis of described the 3rd axial line distance is less than 3 millimeters, and is parallel to described first axle perpendicular to described second axis.

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